Md. bans ‘gay conversion therapy’ for minors

(AP) – Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has signed a bill to prohibit health professionals from practicing "gay conversion therapy" on minors, as a growing number of states and municipalities are banning the practice.

The Republican governor signed the bill Tuesday.

Maryland is the 12th state to enact legislation against the practice of trying to alter a person's sexual orientation through psychological intervention. Supporters of the ban note the therapy is widely discredited by medical and mental health associations. The law will classify the practice as unprofessional conduct.

California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington also have laws on the books, as well as the District of Columbia. New Hampshire and Hawaii recently passed similar measures that have gone to the governor in those states.